Existing comment:
Gallstones:
Gallstones form when fat particles, particularly cholesterol, crystallize and accumulate in the gallbladder. Passage of these hard "stones" through the bile duct, which connects the gallbladder with the intestine, can be extremely painful. Sometimes, stones completely block the duct, obstructing the passage of bile. Gallstones are often diagnosed after a high fat meal. Meals high in fat stimulate the release of intestinal hormones that cause the muscle in the walls of the gallbladder to vigorously contract, emptying the bile into the small intestine near its attachment to the stomach. The strong contraction may force a gallstone into the opening. Gallstones are most common in obese, middle-aged women. These gallstones illustrate the variation in size and shape these formations can take. |